Categories

Top Topics in Republic of Ireland news

Pope Francis will make the first papal trip to Ireland in almost 40 years, visiting Dublin August 25th and 26th for a Church meeting on families.

It is expected that he will travel to Armagh, Ireland's ecclesiastical capital, when he visits.

There has been strong speculation that the pontiff will visit the city's Catholic and Anglican cathedrals and hold an open-air Mass.

The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference said in a statement that the Pope will attend part of the 9th World Meeting of Families which will take place from 21 – 26 August in Dublin.

It said Pope Francis (81) will arrive in Dublin on Saturday, August 25th and will take part in the Festival of Families in Croke Park. The next day, Sunday August 26th, Pope Francis will be the chief celebrant at mass in the PhoenixPark and this event will bring to a conclusion the World Meeting of Families 2018.

The bishops said: "We eagerly await the visit of Pope Francis which no doubt will be an occasion of spiritual renewal for our laity, religious and clergy as well as a strengthening of Christian family life."